Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
MoS Fisheries, I&B L.Murugan visited NFDB today
Sea weed culturing being promoted in a big way: Murugan
Dr. L. Murugan, The Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying and Information & Broadcasting visited the National Fisheries Development Board , Hyderabad today to review the activities of the Board and inaugurate and felicitate few activities funded & implemented by NFDB.
Speaking in a Press conference the minister said that, Sea weed culturing is being promoted across the country in a big way and steps are being taken to identify places in the country where such culturing units can be set up. Sea weed culture and cage aqua culture are the new age techniques that the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana  is actively promoting for empowerment of fishermen, more so women. “There is a great demand for sea weed, which has medicinal properties, in India and abroad. Sea weed cultivation helps in empowerment of the fishing community, especially women,” he said. A sea weed economic park is coming up in Tamil Nadu. More such parks will be set up across the country, he added.
The Union Government is working on strategies to drastically increase earning from fishing. With an eye on boasting fishing activities, the government under Aatma Nirbha Bharat has allocated ₹20,000 crore for developing, among others, landing centres, fishing harbours, processing units and cold storages. While encouraging new age fishing techniques, the government is supporting inland fishing and also keen on increasing export of fish through various projects proposed under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana  , he added.
Dr L Murugan said every fisherman will be given the benefit of Kisan Credit Card soon. The standard operating Procedures are being prepared and the proposals are in advance consideration of the Agriculture Ministry. Dr Murugan further said foundation stone will be laid soon for the five fishing harbors with international standards, as announced in the annual budget 2021-22, proposed at places including Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Paradeep.
“India is working on using drones for transportation, be it for delivery of goods at home or assistance during emergencies or monitoring law and order. Soon drones will be deployed for all such needs. Drones are being used in delivery of COVID-19 vaccines,” referring to the PM Mann ki Baat , the minister said ,Drone technology will play an important role in coming future
Earlier, the minister virtually launched the Giant Freshwater Prawn Hatchery established at College of Fisheries, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University , Dholi, Bihar under the NFDB funded project on Demonstration of seed production technology of Giant Freshwater Prawn/Scampi in Bihar. He launched the Jingles as part of publicity to create awareness and popularise PMMSY scheme among fishers, fish farmers and other stakeholders. The Minister also released the publications on Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund  prepared by NFDB in 9 vernacular languages.
The Minister felicitated the Award winners of Recipe competition organized by NFDB in connection to Poshan Maah 2021, among the winners Ms. Shravani from Telangana got 3rd prize, felicitated by minister. He visited the demonstration units and Aquatic Animal Health and Quality Testing Lab established in the NFDB campus.